A woman has been arrested for cheating a Khar-based law student of Rs 7 lakh by posing as a Customs official and Reserve Bank of India manager. The accused, Donshung Ruvandar (27), has been remanded in police custody and her two Nigerian friends, who were also a part of the scam, are wanted in the case.

Deputy commissioner of police Pratap Dighavkar said, "The victim came in contact with one of the Nigerians over a social networking site. He told her that he wanted to invest in properties in Mumbai and asked for the victim's help in the matter."

The Nigerian had posted a photograph of a European national as his profile picture and told the victim that he was working in the US. Recently, the victim received a call from the Nigerian, who told her that he had landed at the international airport in Mumbai and had been stopped by a Customs official for carrying $50,000 with him. He put Donshung on the phone with the victim, introducing her as a Customs official.

Donshung told the victim that her friend had been detained for violating Customs rules and he would only be let off if she received a bribe. The victim agreed and deposited around Rs 1.5 lakh in an account in two days. But there was no news of her friend. The victim contacted Donshung, who told her that the authorities had deported her friend back to the US.

After some days, the victim received a call from her friend from a US number. He told her that he was unable to meet her because of legal issues and told her that he was sending $50,000 to her. He told her to deduct her expenses from the money and invest the rest in the real estate.

After a few days, Donshung called the victim from another number and told the victim she was Nisha Patel, a manager at the Reserve Bank of India. Donshung told the victim that her friend had sent $50,000 in her name and she need to pay legal charges to claim the amount. Donshung told the victim to deposit Rs 4.5 lakh in another bank account and the victim followed the instructions.

After a day, Donshung told the victim that a further Rs 6.5 lakh needed to be deposited in the same account for her money to be cleared. The victim approached the RBI office to discuss the issue and discovered the fraud. She approached the Khar police, who arrested Donshung with the help of her cell records. Cops suspect that several others have been cheated the same way.